When Do I Die?

A family was involved in a serious traffic accident. Mike, the youngest of two brothers involved, was badly injured and needed a blood transfusion. Mike's big brother Danny, who was only eight years old, had the same blood type as his younger brother. The dad sat down with Danny and carefully explained to him why this blood transfusion was needed and how wonderful it would be for his little brother. After some silence, Danny responded by saying, "Yes, Daddy, I'll give my blood to Mike so he can get well."
At the hospital, a pint of blood was drawn from Danny's veins. Only after the needle was removed did Danny turn to his father with tears rolling down his cheeks and ask, "Daddy, when do I die?"
The father suddenly realized with a shock that Danny had misunderstood his explanation of giving blood. Danny thought he was giving all his blood to save the life of his brother! He thought he would die after the transfusion was over. Yet he still had agreed to help his brother.


Lesson:
Danny was willing to die so that his little brother would live. That's what Christ did for each of us. He shed His own blood to give us life. He died for us so... we may live together with him" (1 Thess. 5:10).

Uncompromising Determination

A farmer was driving down the road one day and noticed a signed by the local airport that said "EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF FLYING." The farmer thought to himself, Tomorrows is my wife's birthday. I'd love for her to experience the thrill of flying. That would sure make a nice birthday present.
The farmer went into the airport and after sometime found a pilot who would take him and his wife on a flight over their farm. The pilot owned a small open cockpit plane that would certainly give his wife a thrill, but the pilot's price was too high. The farmer bartered with the pilot for a long time, insisting on a lower price. Finally, the pilot agreed to the lower price, on one condition: the farmer and his wife had to promise not to say a single word during the entire flight. One word spoken aloud, however small, would increase the prices to the pilot's original fee. The farmer's determination to give his wife the thrill of flying was only surpassed by his determination to spend as little money as possible, so he agreed to the condition.
The next morning the three of them took off and soon were high in the air. The pilot knew that if he did a few roller-coaster dips and turns with the plane, the couple in the backseat would speak up and he would receive the higher price. With that in mind, the pilot dipped and turned, climbed and dived, even did a few loop-de-loops. But not a sound was uttered. Not a scream, not a whimper. Nothing but silence.
As they were landing, the pilot, amazed at the determination of his passengers, yelled back to the farmer, "I can't believe you didn't say something up there! why, I dipped and turned, climbed and dived as never before, but you two were quite the whole time. I guess you win!"
The farmer shouted back, "Well, you almost won, son. You almost won. I sure felt like screaming when my wife fell out."


Lesson:
The old farmer was determined to get what he wanted on his terms. He got it, but with a result that he probably hadn't counted on. Some of us are like that. We can be amazingly determined to have things our way. We let pride stubbornness get in the way of listening to reason or doing what we know is right.

Are you like that sometimes? You know that God wants, but you want something else. Before long there is a battle of the wills. Who is going to win? The truth is, you may win a battle or two, but you always lose of the war. If you are a strong-willed person, with a mind of your own, God wants you! God wants to transform and to channel your determination into a determination to serve Christ and to stick with Him no matter what. God is looking for people who stubbornly refuse to turn away from Jesus Christ.

THE TURTLE PICNIC

A Turtle family went on a picnic. They had prepared seven years for their outing. The family left home, searching for a suitable place. During the second year of their journey, they found it. For about six months they cleared the area, unpacked the picnic basket and completed the arrangements. They discovered, however, that they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without a salt would be a disaster, they all agreed.

After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt at home. Although he was the fastest of the slow-moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go only one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.

Three years passed-and the little turtle had not returned. Five years. Six years.  Then in the seventh year his absence, the eldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced they he was going to eat and began to unwrap a sandwich. At that point, the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, "SEE! I knew you wouldn't wait! Now, I'm not going to get the salt."

Lesson:

Some of us like the little turtle, don't trust anyone or give anyone the benefit of the doubt. We waste away our whole lives waiting for people to live up to our poor expectations of them---and they always do.

We can be thankful that God doesn't treat us that way. He accept us just the way we are. He believes in us. He cheers us on. He thinks the best of us. He is proud of us. When we mess up, He forgives and forgets, and gives us another opportunity to do good. That's how God treat us, and that's how we are to treat others. Let's not think the worst of each other. Let's expect the best.

The Battleship and the Lighthouse

In the darkest part of the night, a ships captain cautiously piloted his warship through the fog-shrouded waters. With straining eyes he scanned the hazy darkness, searching for dangers lurking just out of sight. 

Then His worst fears were realised when he saw a bright light straight ahead. It appeared to be a vessel on a collision course with his ship. To avert disaster he quickly radioed the oncoming vessel.

"This is Captain Jeremiah Smith," his voice crackled over the radio. "Please alter your course 10 degrees south! Over."

To the captains amazement, the foggy image did not move. Instead, he heard back on the radio, "Captain Smith. This is Private Thomas Johnson. please alter your course 10 degrees north! Over."

Appalled at the audacity of the message, the captain shouted back over the radio, "Private Johnson, this is Captain Smith, and I order you to immediately alter your course 10 degree south! Over."

A second time the oncoming light did not budge. "With all due respect Captain Smith," came the privates voice again, "I order you to alter your course immediately 10 degrees north! Over."

Angered and frustrated that this impudent sailor would endanger the lives of his men and crew, the captain growled back over the radio, "Private Johnson. I can have you court-marshalled for this! For the last time, I command you on the authority of the United States government to alter your course 10 degrees to the South! I am a battleship!"

The privates final transmission was chilling: "Captain Smith, sir. Once again with all due respect, I command you to alter your course 10 degrees to the North! I am a lighthouse!"

Lesson:
Many of us in todays world have little respect for authority. We operate as if rules can be changed (or should be) changed to fit our personal needs and desires. Commercials egg us on: "Have it your way," "Rules are made to be broken." In reality, we cant always have it our way. We have to conform our lives to a higher truth, a higher authority. Truth is not going to change to accommodate us. We are the ones who must change to conform our lives to whats true. 


God's truth is like a lighthouse. It's not going to change to accommodate us. We are the ones who must change to conform our lives to what God wants for us.


Jesus is like a lighthouse. The Bible teaches that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He will always be there for us. He is absolutely dependable. We Christians must conform our lives to His will for us. If He tells us to alter our courses, we have no choice but to obey. That's what being a disciple is all about.


HIFYT.

The Greatest Hitter in the World

A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball bat. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down, he swung again and missed. "Strike Two!" 

The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike Three! Wow!" the boy exclaimed. "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"


Lesson: 
Your attitude determines how circumstances impact your life. The little boy's circumstances hadn't changed, but his optimistic attitude prompted him to give an encouraging meaning to what had happened.


What difficult time you are going through right now?
Can you do something to change it? If you can, don't wait another day. Make the needed changes. If you can't change the circumstance, however, change your attitude. you'll discover that circumstances won't have the last word.